Beauty of nature, artists converge at Index Arts Festival

Published 12:01 am Friday, August 5, 2011

The Index Arts Festival has come to be known as a blend of natural beauty and artist-created beauty.

Artists will display their eclectic mix of paintings, photographs, ceramics and crafts against a backdrop of mountains, river and trees Saturday in the tiny hamlet.

Festival activities are in the town park and on historic Avenue A, both under covered venues or in the open air.

About 50 artists participate, including Patrick Woods and his Puget Sound Group of Northwest Painters, along with Dean Shepherd, a maker of whimsical birdhouses.

Haida woodcarver Ralph Bennett will demonstrate his craft.

This year’s poster artist for the festival is Jim Roberts, who joked that he would “have a brush or two out” to look like he’s painting, but probably won’t get too much actual work done.

“It’s amazing we have all this happening on one day because we move pretty slow here in Index,” Roberts said. “But it’s a great festival and for an event up on the hill, you can’t beat it, with music all day and it’s a beautiful place.”

Pat Sample of Paradise Sound Recording Studio is in charge of coordinating the musicians who play all day. On the ticket are Index resident Sean “Rib” Horst and his band, Folkier Than Thou, along with bluegrass group Convergence Zone, classical violinist Tanya Boviard and women’s drum group Wild Ginger.

The poetry part of the festival will feature poets throughout the day who will do open readings at various times.

Children’s and youth activities include a free art area and the Barnyard Buzzards Model Airplane Flying Club.

Some key points to remember: Admission is free, parking is limited and dog leash laws are strictly enforced.

The eighth annual Index Arts Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in Index. Follow U.S. 2 east of Monroe. After crossing the Skykomish River Bridge, turn left at the Index Cafe. For more information go to www.indexartsfestival.org.

Herald staff